A ballot of members in the civil service closed on Friday 19th December. All grades voted in favour of the proposals, which were negotiated through the local bargaining clause of the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026.
 
The proposals include pay increases of 1.25% at the maximum point of each scale and introduce point ‘skips’ within pay scales. They apply to clerical officers, executive officers, administrative officers, and higher executive officers working in the civil service. Service officers, and cleaners approved a proposal for a 1.5% adjustment on the maximum point of the scale.

The Civil Service divisional executive committee (DEC)  had unanimously recommended that members vote to accept the offers made in phase one of the local bargaining negotiations and proceed to negotiations for phase two in the coming months. 

A formal letter of acceptance was issued to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on Tuesday 23rd December. 

Deputy general secretary and head of the civil service division Éamonn Donnelly said: “This is a significant development in the overall context of local bargaining, as it represents one of the earliest, and certainly the largest, settlements within the public service. A settlement of this magnitude safeguards the remaining claims, which will now be pursued.”

In correspondence with the Department Fórsa sought an immediate resumption of discussions on any operational or processing issues which may arise. Fórsa has also sought immediate discussion on the Engineers claim, an offer in respect of which is expected within a matter of weeks. 

Éamonn continued: “This is significant progress for local bargaining. The proposals that have been accepted were negotiated as part of phase one. This outcome will make it possible to pursue claims under phase two, payable after the expiry of the current public service agreement in June 2026.”

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